Waterford eventually give way to stronger Carlow outfit
Waterford's Colin Foley tries to slow down Carlow's Conor Crowley Photo: Pat Ahern
Defeat was Waterford's lot in their first game in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League but a gutsy performance will have given plenty of positives for manager Paul Shankey.
With the wind and the monsoon conditions favouring the home side in the first half, Waterford opened the scoring with the classy Alan Dunwoody raising a white flag. Carlow hit back with a two-pointer from Aaron Amond. Dunwoody countered with an equaliser from play.
Carlow created two goal chances in the opening half with Conor Crowley breaking through but opting for a white flag, his punched effort came back off the crossbar. Minutes later, Darragh O’Brien pulled his shot just wide of the right-hand upright. Mixed into those chances came a Dunwoody two pointer while O’Brien converted a two-point free.
The key moment of the half came on 31 minutes when a high ball from Conor Doyle was deflected to the net by an alert Ross Dunphy. At the interval, Carlow led 1-6 to 0-5.
The home side played the better football in the opening stages of the second half with Dunwoody, Jason Curry (f) and Conor Murray all raising white flags. The eventual winners settled and O’Brien and Conor Crowley both picked off nice points. Seven minutes injury time had Carlow supporters on the toes. They need not have worried as a breakaway from the visitors saw the home defence opened and substitute, Kevin Murphy tipped to the net for the clincher.
D O’Brien 0-5 (1-2pf, 3fs), R Dunphy 1-2, C Doyle 0-4 (1-2p, 1f), K Murphy 1-0, A Amond 0-2 (1-2p), C Lomax, C Crowley 0-1 each.
A Dunwoody 0-6 (1-2p), C Murray 0-4 (1 2p), J Curry 0-2 (fs).
Johnny Furey; Paddy Regan, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; Shane Clarke, John Murphy, Mikey Bambrick; Ian Atkinson, Liam Brennan; Aaron Amond, Conor Doyle, Paddy McDonnell; Conor Crowley, Ross Dunphy, Darragh O’Brien. Subs: Lee Walker for Amond (50), Kyle Nolan for Atkinson (60), Cormac Lomax for Crowley (62), Kevin Murphy for Dunphy (70), Josh Egan for O’Brien (73).
Paudie Hunt; Colin Foley, Caoimhin Walsh, Liam Fennell; Donie Fitzgerald, Darach O Cathasaigh, Dermot Ryan; Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong; James Power, Conor Murray, Jason Curry; James Walsh, Alan Dunwoody, Billy Hynes. Subs: John Groves for Hynes (47), Conor O Currin for Furlong (50), Jamie Power for Fitzgerald (57), Joe Booth for Guiry (65), Michael O’Brien for Walsh (68).
Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).
